The biomass dynamics of primary producers have important implications for the structure and function of ecosystems. Along the wave-swept coastline of central California, USA, biomass removal by wave action is a key driver in the primary productivity of giant kelp forests, yet the mechanisms of regrowth within giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera are not well understood. To examine the physiological ...

Climate, vegetation and humans act on biomass burning at different spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we used a dense network of sedimentary charcoal records from eastern Canada to reconstruct regional biomass burning history over the last 7000 years at the scale of four potential vegetation types: open coniferous forest/tundra, boreal coniferous forest, boreal mixedwood forest and tem...

To analyze the main variables affecting crown biomass, we measured crown biomass and a number of variables describing tree size, such as stem diameter at breast height (D), tree height (H), crown width (Cw) and crown length (Cl), from 754 sample trees of four pine species in China, specifically, Pinus massoniana, P. yunnanensis, P. tabulaeformis and P. elliottii. In addition, we developed indiv...

We propose a framework in support of the supply chain network design and management of densified biomass. This framework relies in the use of trucks for short distance biomass transportation, and relies in the use of rail for long-haul, and highvolume transportation of densified biomass. We propose a hub-and-spoke network design model in support of biomass delivery using rail transportation. We...

The interdependence of species richness and plant biomass has widely been accepted as a general biodiversity rule. However, there is no information about how relationships are established during colonization and how total biomass is distributed among plants. The main objective of this study was to determine the role of several factors which we have hypothetized as affecting biomass distribution...

The experiments on accumulation of 99Tc by Elodea biomass showed that 99Tc activity concentration can reach 120± 6Bq/g, with the concentration factor for 99Tc 2700± 500 L/kg. In experiments on 99Tc release, over 504 h about 82% of the total 99Tc activity was released into the water from plant biomass; most of 99Tc was released within the first 192 h. Results of chemical fractionation of the bio...

This study explored the availability and consumption pattern of various traditional biomass fuels, preference of and expenditure for biomass fuels, problems with the uses of biomass fuels and villagers’ strategy to cope with the biomass fuel problems. Data were collected from 330 households under three wealth categories – well-off, middle and poor households. Households were found to depend lar...

Remote sensing is often used to assess rangeland condition and biophysical parameters across large areas. In particular, the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and above-ground biomass can be used to assess rangeland primary productivity (seasonal carbon gain or above-ground biomass “yield”). We evaluated the NDVI–yield relationship for a southern Alberta pra...

Biomass pellet production has increased considerably in recent years, mainly due to the demand created by policies and bioenergy-use targets in the European Union (EU). Global biomass pellet production was 24.1 million tonne (Mt) in 2014. In this study, a preliminary attempt has been made to assess the techno-economic feasibility of biomass pellets for electricity generation in India produced f...